WBBSE Solutions For Class 6 Geography Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale Direction Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps

WBBSE Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale Direction Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Describe The essential Components of a map.
Answer:

The essential Components of a map:

There are certain components without which a map is considered to be incomplete.

These essential components of a map are as follows—

Proper direction (North line):

On an upright map, the North is on the top, the South is at the bottom, the East is on the right-hand side and the West is on the left-hand side. The north line of a map confirms these directions.

Scale:

A scale provides an accurate relation between the map distance and the ground distance between two particular points.

A study should always be true to scale. Various forms of scales can be used on a map based on their uses.

Symbols:

Symbols are used to depict information on a thematic map because of space restrictions.

These symbols can be lines, shapes, figures or colours to depict various things on the map. These are collectively called conventional symbols or signs.

Index:

The index on a map explains these symbols in a small box or table in any one of the corners of the map. The index of a map is also known as a legend or key.

Title:

A title is an absolute necessity for a map. This explains in brief the content of the map.

Content generally includes the name of the place in which the map is drawn, along with the type of map drawn. For example, ‘Weather map of India’.

Question 2. What is the importance of a scale in a map?
Answer:

The importance of a scale in a map:

Scale is an essential component for drawing any map true to its sizes and with the use of a small or a large scale, a detailed (large scale) or a not-so-detailed (small scale/medium scale) map can be drawn.

The actual ground distance and area of a region can be found accurately using a scale. The scale of a map is determined based on the purpose for which it is being drawn. A map used to locate the rivers in a country may be a small-scale map.

However, the map used to study and use a village is essentially a large-scale map.

Question 3. How many types of maps can we delineate according to scale?
Answer:

Types of maps can we delineate according to scale:

Maps are usually delineated into two categories according to their scales.

They are as follows—

Small-scale maps:

Small-scale maps depict a large area, such as an entire country.

To show an entire country, the map has to be drawn on a smaller scale. The details depicted on a small-scale map would be lesser than a large-scale map.

Aliases, wall maps and others are examples of small-scale maps. Map scales that are usually like 1cm = 250 km are known as small-scale maps.

Large-scale maps:

Large-scale maps depict a small area. The details depicted on a large-scale map are more than on a small-scale map.

Cadastral maps or village maps are ideal examples of large-scale maps. Mapscalesthatare usually likes lcm = 2 km known as large-scale maps.

Question 4. What are the advantages of large-scale maps?
Answer:

The advantages of large-scale maps are as follows—

Drawn on a large scale:

Large-scale maps are drawn to depict a small area with proper magnification.

Detailed information:

This map provides detailed information about a region.

Concept of physical and cultural aspects:

Reading large-scale maps gives an idea about the physical and cultural aspects of a region.

WBBSE Class 6 Maps Scale and Symbols Notes

Question 5. What are the disadvantages of small-scale maps?
Answer:

The disadvantages of small-scale maps are as follows—

Drawn on a small scale:

A small-scale map shows a large area in a small map. So all the details of a region can not be shown on this type of map.

Less informative:

Not much information are available from this map.

Lack of detailed ideas:

Reading a small-scale map does not give a detailed idea about the physical and cultural aspects of the region.

Question 6. How to measure the distance between two points on the map?

Short Questions on Map Direction and Symbols

Answer: First we have to join the two points on the map with a straight line and measure the distance between them using a scale.

In the given picture, X and Y are the two points and the distance between these two points is 3cm.

The scale of the map reads as lcm = 100m /. 3cm on map, would be = 3x100m = 300m on ground.

Thus, the ground distance between the two points, X and Y is 300m.

Question 7. Why does India look bigger on the map of Asia than on the world map? 
Answer:

The world map is drawn using a small scale so that all countries and cities can be located properly. On such a map, incorporating a lot of information is not possible.

Here, the size of India would be smaller, so that only the states and important cities are visible.

On the other hand, on a map of Asia, of the same size as the paper, only one continent is drawn.

Thus, more details can be incorporated and the size of the countries would also be comparatively big than on a world map. So, India would appear bigger.

Practice Questions on Cardinal Directions and Scale

Question 8. Fill in the knowledge hive with information on a physical map.

Answer:

1. The physical characteristics of the Earth are represented on this map.
2. A separate map can be drawn with every physical element.
3. Geological maps, soil maps, and weather maps are all examples of this type of map.
4. Separate maps drawn from it depicting different elements are examples of thematic maps.

Question 9. Write them down correctly.

Answer:

Clues: A is located northwest of B.

T is located in the U.
O is located in the of P.
To the southwest of X is located

Question 10. Crossword

Real-Life Scenarios Involving Map Reading Skills

Clues:________________

Down:_________________

1. The oldest known map was discovered here.
2. He is a Greek God after whom the first book of maps was named.
3. The first modern atlas was published by him.
4. Mineral distribution is shown by this type of map.

Across:________________

5. This is the art of making maps.
6. This is the ratio between map distance and ground distance.

Answer:

Down:__________________

1. Babylon,
2. Atlas,
3. Ortelius,
4. Thematic

Across:________________

5. Cartography,
6. Scale

Question 11. Classify the various types of scales.
Answer: A scale provides the accurate ratio of the map distance and the ground distance between two points. According to cartography, scales are usually classified into three divisions.

They are as follows:

Statement scale or Verbal scale: This scale is described in simple language.

For example, if the scale says, ‘one centimetre is equal to one kilometre’, then we can instantly understand that the one-centimetre distance on the map corresponds to one kilometre on the ground.

Interpreting this scale needs no technical knowledge. The only disadvantage is that it is elaborate.

Representative fraction or Ratio scale:

This scale represents a fraction or a ratio. For example, if the scale says, ‘1:50,000’, this means 1 unit of distance on the map is equal to 50,000 units (same unit) of distance on the ground.

There are two important advantages of this scale. First, any unit according to personal convenience can be used and second, it is convenient to accommodate on the map.

A disadvantage of this scale is that nongeographers find it difficult to use.

Graphical scale:

This scale looks like a ruler, with graduations marked on it. One side of the scale represents the map distance, whereas the other side represents the ground distance.

There are two important advantages of this scale.

First, it is easy to use and second, if the map size is reduced or enlarged, the scale automatically changes accordingly, yet remains accurate.

The disadvantage of this scale is that nongeographers find it difficult to use.

WBBSE Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale, Direction, Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What Is meant by scale?
Answer:

Scale:

The scale of a map is the specific ratio in which the actual part of the Earth is reduced and shown on a map.

The scale can also be defined as the ratio of the distance between any two points on the map and that on the ground.

For example, if the scale shows 1cm = 1km, then it means that the 1cm distance on the map corresponds to the 1km distance on the ground. So, the map is a miniature version of the ground reality.

Question 2. Describe the functions of a scale.
Answer:

The functions of a scale are listed below:

1. It is an essential component of any map true to size.
2. With a small or a large scale, a detailed (large scale) or a not-so-detailed (small scale/medium scale) map can be drawn.
3. The actual ground distance and area of a region can be calculated accurately using a scale.

Question 3. What is meant by a small-scale map?
Answer:

Small-scale map:

Small scale map depicts a large area, such as an entire country or continent. To show such a vast region, the map has to be drawn on a smaller scale.

The details depicted on a small-scale map would be lesser than a large-scale map. Aliases, wall maps and others are examples of small-scale maps. Scales of small-scale maps are usually like 1cm = 250km.

Question 4. What is meant by a large-scale map?
Answer:

Large-scale map:

A large-scale map depicts a small area. The details depicted on a large-scale map would be more than a small-scale map. Cadastral maps or village maps are ideal examples of large-scale maps.

Scales are usually like 1cm = 2km on large-scale maps.

Question 5. What is meant by a medium-scale map?
Answer:

Medium-scale map:

A medium-scale map meets the gap between a small-scale map and a large-scale map.

Though it lacks detailed landmarks that can be used for travelling or any other detailed study, it is useful for planning purposes.

Scales that usually range between 1cm = 0.5 km to 1cm = 1km are known as medium-scale maps. Topographical maps are drawn on a medium scale.

Question 6. How can the entire world or a portion of the world ideally be depicted through a map?
Answer:

The entire world or a portion of the world ideally be depicted through a map:

We are incapable of seeing the entire world as a whole, at a time. So, a map is the only way where we can view the entire world in detail.

It is also not possible to find a paper as big as the Earth, to draw a map. So a map is drawn accurately to a scale that is in ratio to the actual ground distance.

Conceptual Questions on Reading Maps Effectively

Question 7. How does one determine the direction on a map?
Answer:

On an upright map—

North is on the top, south is at the bottom, east is on the right-hand side and West is on the left-hand side. A north line is also included on a map to confirm the directions.

Question 8. How can we determine direction by facing the sun?
Answer:

We Can determine direction by facing the sun:

The Sun rises in the east. The exact opposite direction is known to be the west.

As we stand facing the morning sun, the right-hand side would be the south and the left-hand side would be the north.

Question 9. What are the essentials components of a map?
Answer:

The essential components of a map are as follows—

1. Proper direction (North line),
2. Scale,
3. Latitudes and longitudes,
4. Conventional signs and symbols,
5. Legend,
6. Title.

Question 10. What is meant by an index on a map?
Answer:

Index on a map:

In thematic maps, the use of specific colours, signs, symbols and letters is required. The index on a map explains these symbols in a small box or table in any one of the corners of the map.

The index of a map is also called a legend or key.

Important Definitions Related to Map Elements

Question 11. To study a topographical map, the knowledge of conventional signs is essential. Why?
Answer:

To study a topographical map, the knowledge of conventional signs is essential

A topographical map shows different physical landscape features. It is a medium-scale map that gives detailed information about the place.

To denote these features, various conventional signs and symbols are used as assigned by the Survey of India authority.

To study a topographical map, the knowledge of conventional signs is essential, without which the map cannot be interpreted.

Question 12. Determine the route that you should follow while returning from your school.
Answer:

The route that I should follow while returning from your school:

I first need to determine the distance from my school to my house in order to determine the route. Now I need to determine the direction in which I need to walk.

The next step would be determining certain important landmarks to my east and west. This entire procedure will help me to determine and finalise my route while returning from my school.

Question 13. A map is drawn with a scale of 1cm = 20 km. What would be the actual ground distance between two places whose map distance is 3 cm on this map?
Answer:

The scale of the map reads as 1cm = 20 km. This means, 1cm on the map measures 20 km on the ground. Therefore, 3cm on the map would measure 20 x 3 = 60 km on the ground.

Question 14. Write The difference between a large-scale map and a small-scale map
Answer:

The differences between a large-scale map and a small-scale map are as follows—

Question 15. Determine the scale of a map, if the map distance between two places is 10cm and the actual ground distance is 200km.
Answer:

Here, 10cm of map distance represents 200km of ground distance.

Therefore, 1cm of map distance would represent 200/10 = 20km of ground distance.

Thus, the actual ground distance between the two places would be 60km.

Hence, the scale of the map reads as 1cm = 20km.

Question 16. Differentiate between a wall map and an atlas.
Answer:

The differences between a wall map and an atlas are as follows—

WBBSE Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale, Direction, Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Name an essential element of a map.
Answer: Scale.

Question 2. A statement scale of a map reads as 1cm to 2.5km. What is the ground distance here?
Answer: 2.5km.

Question 3. In which direction does a compass always point?
Answer: North.

Question 4. Mention the intercardinal points.
Answer: North-east, south-east, north-west, south-west.

Question 5. What is the easiest method to identify direction?
Answer: Observing the sunrise and sunset.

Question 6. Which will be the hand side of a map?
Answer: West direction.

Examples of Conventional Symbols Used in Maps

Question 7. On which side of the Prime Meridian is Kolkata located?
Answer: East.

Question 8. Which colour is used to represent mountains on a globe?
Answer: Brown.

Question 9. Which colour is used to demarcate the ocean bodies on a globe?
Answer: Blue.

Question 10. Which colour is used to demarcate the forest areas on a map?
Answer: Green.

WBBSE Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale, Direction, Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps Fill In The Blanks

Question 1. _______________ is the ratio between the map distance and ground distance.
Answer: Scale

Question 2. ‘N’ denotes the_______________ on a map.
Answer: North direction

Question 3. _______________ can be accurately determined with the help of a compass.
Answer: Direction

Question 4. _______________ in the night sky helps us to Determine the north.
Answer: North star

Question 5. When we face the Sun, our right-hand side is the_______________ side.
Answer: Southern

Question 6. _______________ Delhi is located on the side of the map of India.
Answer: Northern

Question 7. Colour is used to_______________ denote a pond or a lake on a map.
Answer: Blue

Question 8. Human settlements are shown in_______________ Colour on a map.
Answer: Red

Question 9. _______________ is key to all symbols used on a map.
Answer: Index

Question 10._______________ provides an idea of the subject explained on a map.
Answer: Title

WBBSE Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale, Direction, Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps Write True Or False

Question 1. The ratio between map distance and ground distance is known as cartogram.
Answer: False

Question 2. A cadastral map is a small-scale map.
Answer: False

Question 3. In a cadastral map, 16 inches = 1 mile.
Answer: True

Question 4. Large-scale maps give more information.
Answer: True

Question 5. For the precise determination of the location of a place, both distance and direction are essential.
Answer: True

Question 6. Both the sketch and plan of a place are similar things.
Answer: False

WBBSE Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale, Direction, Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps Miscellaneous Type Questions Find The Odd Out

Question 1. Population map: Weather map: Vegetation map: Geological map
Answer: Population map (not a physical map)

Question 2. Map: Cartography: Atlas: Cloud cover
Answer: Benchmark (not related to map making)

Question 3. Wall map: Atlas: Cadastral map: Globe
Answer: Cadastral map (not a small-scale map)

Question 4. Rail lines and roadways are shown on a physical map.
Answer: Thematic map

Question 5. Mountains and hills are shown on a political map.
Answer: Physical map

Question 6. The first atlas was Eratosthenes.
Answer: Ortelius

Question 7. City maps are small-scale maps.
Answer: Large

Question 8. The colour green is used to demarcate waterbodies on a map.
Answer: Blue

Question 9. I am capable of depicting a large area, such as an entire country in an accurately smaller version. Who am I?
Answer: Small-scale map

Question 10. I am a map that illustrates the administrative boundaries of countries, states, cities and towns. Who am I?
Answer: Political map

Question 11. I am the first person to use the term ‘Atlas1 for a collection of maps. Who am I?
Answer: Flemish geographer and cartographer, Gerardus Mercator

Question 12. I represent the record of ownership of land and I usually bear a scale of 16 inches = 1 mile in India. Who am I?
Answer: Cadastral map

Question 13. I am a clay tablet—currently a treasure of the collection at the British Museum. Who am I?
Answer: Imago Mundi (Babylonian world map)

WBBSE Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale, Direction, Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps Miscellaneous Formative

Find out the political map of your state from a map book. Write them down correctly—

Question 1. How many districts are there?
Answer: Presently, there are 23 districts in our state.

Question 2. In which district do you live?
Answer: I live in the Hooghly district.

Question 3. What are the names of your surrounding districts?
Answer: The surrounding districts of my district are—

1. Purba Bardhaman,
2. Nadia,
3. North 24 Parganas, Howrah.

Question 4. What is the capital of your state?
Answer: Kolkata is the capital of my state.

Interpretation and Application

This segment will test whether the students have understood topics or whether they are just mugging up.

Question 1. Try to understand and write it down.
Answer:

Question 2. Look at the political map of India. Find out in which direction from Delhi are the following cities located.

1. Kolkata, South-east,
2. Mumbai, South-west,
3. Chennai, South,
4. Bengaluru South

Question 3. Look carefully at the political map of India. Can you say—

1. What is the scale of the map?
Answer: The scale of the map is 1cm = 200km.

2. What are the distances between India’s northernmost and southernmost point and between its easternmost and westernmost point?
Answer: The distance between India’s northernmost and southernmost points is 3214km and the same between easternmost and westernmost points is 2933km.

3. What is the ground distance between Delhi and Kolkata and between Mumbai and Chennai according to the map scale?
Answer: According to the scale mentioned in the map above, the ground distances between Delhi and Kolkata and between Chennai and Bengaluru are 1288km and 1008km respectively.

Question 4. One can learn about India’s main rivers from this map. Would it have been possible to show all these rivers together if they were no maps?

Answer: No, it would not have been possible to show all these rivers together if there were no map. There are numerous rivers in our vast country.

Only a river map can represent all these rivers together.

Question 5. The map shows the road from Subho’s house to his school.

1. But how far is the house from school?
Answer: Subho crosses a total distance of (P to Q), (Q to R) and (R to S) to go from his house to school.

These distances on the map measured with a scale are 1cm, 5cm and 2cm respectively. Therefore total map distance is 1cm + 5cm + 2cm = 8cm.

Now, the map scale is 1cm to 100m. Hence, the total ground distance from Subho’s house to school is (8 x 100m) = 800m.

2. Does Subho reach school by walking for 10 minutes or does it take an hour?
Answer: Since the distance between Subho’s house and his school is 800m, it takes him 10 minutes to walk and reach his school.

3. Look there is a scale drawn on the right side of the map. You can get answers to all questions from this scale. How?
Answer: We can measure any distance with the help of a given scale. There is a scale drawn on the right side of the map, which has helped to calculate the distance.

Measure the distance between Subho’s house and the hospital with a centimetre scale. Now you need to know the scale of the map.

Question 6. The scale given below the map shows a distance of 100m as 1cm.
Answer: This means that if the distance between two places is Answer: 1cm on the map, the actual distance between them is (1x100m) = 100m.

So if the distance between ‘A’ and ‘B’ is em, then the actual distance between them is (‘ ‘x 100m) =’ ‘m.
The map distance between ‘A’ and ‘B’ is 1cm, then the actual distance between them is (T x 100m) = ‘lOO’m.

Question 7. We now know the distance between Subho’s house and school. But how can we know which direction the school is from Subho’s house?
Answer: There is an ‘N’ sign on the right side of the map. This denotes the north direction.

Now we can easily recognise that Subho’s school is towards the northeast direction with respect to his house. So Subho’s house is located in the northeast direction of the school and is 800m away.

Questioning and Experimentation

This segment will investigate the student’s understanding of the subject, questioning capacity, ability to explain and apply and urge for experimentation.

Question 1. Observe A Globe If You Have One In Your Home Or School.

1. Around what does the globe rotate?
Answer: The globe rotates on an imaginary axis.

2. Can you identify the continents and oceans on a globe? Find out where your country is.
Answer: Yes, I can identify the continents and oceans on the globe. Our country India is in the northeastern hemisphere.

3. What are the lines drawn vertically and horizontally in circles around the globe called?
Answer: The lines drawn vertically or in the north-south direction are the meridians of longitude and the lines drawn horizontally or in the east-west direction are the parallels of latitude.

Question 2. Stand on the roof of your house or in the courtyard when the sun rises in the morning and notice the direction in which the houses near your place are located.
Answer: The houses near my house are located in the following directions—

Abdul s house is in the northwest, Rimpa’s house is towards the west, our local club is towards the east, the Kali temple is towards the south and a primary school is located towards the southeast.

Empathy and Cooperation:

This segment will determine the ability of students to work as a team.

Question 1. Make two groups among your friends. One group is ‘globe’, and the other is ‘map’. Now discuss what are the advantages and disadvantages of a globe and a map.
Answer:

Globe is a small model of the Earth, whereas a map is a representation of the Earth on flat paper.

Aesthetics and Creativity

This segment will check the aesthetic sense and creativity of the students.

Question 1. Draw a layout of your classroom.
Answer:

The layout of my classroom can be illustrated as follows—

Question 2. There is a beautiful park in front of Rahim and Arka’s homes. Both have drawn pictures of the park.

1. Notice the pictures and find out the similarities and dissimilarities.

Answer:

Similarity:

The main similarity between these two pictures is that location of the elements inside the park is approximately the same in both pictures.

Dissimilarities: The dissimilarities between the drawings are:

Question 2. Find which picture shows us better where this place actually is.
Answer:

Features of the park are more well-sketched in Rahim’s drawing than that Arka’s.

Question 3. Like them try to draw a picture of your home or school and its surroundings.
Answer:

In the sketch, you have made the path from your house to your school. Use signs, symbols and colours such as a playground, park (green colour); ponds (blue colour), and houses (red).

Besides these, for temples, rail stations, and post offices you can use specific signs from the table. Finally, to denote which area is represented by what colour, make an index.

I am Ayushman Jana. I live in the district of East Medinipur. I have drawn a sketch map to depict various physical and cultural features on my way to school, using conventional colours, signs, and symbols and these conventional signs and symbols are shown in an index beside.

WBBSE Chapter 11 Maps Topic B Scale, Direction, Conventional Symbols And Elements Of A Maps Match The Columns

Question 1.

Answer: 1-C,2-A,3-E,4-B,5-D